"Jie, I want some watermelon too. Feed me a couple pieces," Li Zheng said, leaning over the back of the front seat.
"Seriously? If you want watermelon, eat it yourself. Do you not have hands? Grab a fork," Jiang Mo retorted.
Young folks can't always keep their thoughts to themselves, and sometimes their mouths run a little too freely.
So when Li Zheng heard Jiang Mo's reply, he just said, "Oh," and then added, "But you just fed Gu Ye earlier."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jiang Mo turned slightly, her expression a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
Gu Ye glanced at the siblings, his cheeks tinged pink, and explained, "I’m driving and need to focus. My hands shouldn’t leave the wheel—that’s why your sister fed me."
"Exactly. He actually needed help. You? You’re just lazy," Jiang Mo teased.
Seeing his sister’s annoyance, Li Zheng quickly backtracked. "Jie, my bad. Here, let me feed you some fruit."
Jiang Mo rolled her eyes. "Forget it. Just eat your own snacks."
Defeated, Li Zheng obediently munched on his food.
But a tiny suspicion had taken root in his mind. From the back seat, he discreetly studied the two of them for the rest of the ride.
By the time they reached their destination, though, he hadn’t noticed anything unusual. Maybe he was overthinking it.
The spot Gu Ye had picked for rafting wasn’t too crowded. Since Jiang Mo was worried he might be recognized, she made sure he was well disguised.
"Wear this cap and sunglasses—especially the sunglasses," she said, inspecting his appearance. His outfit was simple today—nothing flashy or trendy, just plain black and white. The kind of low-key look that wouldn’t draw attention.
Gu Ye complied without protest. "Sure, whatever you say."
The sun was still blazing, so Jiang Mo opened a parasol. Gu Ye took it from her effortlessly. "I’m taller—I’ll hold it."
Just like that, the two of them ended up sharing the shade.
Meanwhile, Li Zheng stood nearby, weighed down by their bags, and whined, "Jie, what about me?"
He wasn’t about to stroll under the scorching sun like some kind of martyr—that was just dumb. Usually, when he and his sister went out in the heat, he was the one looking after her.
Jiang Mo scratched her head. She only had one parasol. "Let’s just hurry and find a place to eat. It’s not far—walk fast and you won’t get too hot."
"Jie, how can you say something so heartless in the middle of summer?"
Gu Ye held the umbrella, standing close enough to Jiang Mo that their arms occasionally brushed. "Tell you what—we’ll see if we can buy another parasol for you later."
There weren’t many restaurants outside the scenic area, so the three settled on a noodle shop for a quick bite. After eating, they grabbed a few bottles of water.
While buying drinks, they spotted some parasols.
"Let’s get two," Jiang Mo said, picking one up and testing its sturdiness. "This’ll do—good enough for now."
"Two is overkill. Just get one for your brother," Gu Ye said, smoothly paying before Jiang Mo could argue.
Li Zheng had expected the wealthy young master to be more extravagant, but surprisingly, he was all about practicality.
After the meal, they finally headed to the rafting site.
"This ride lasts about an hour and a half—not too intense, and the scenery’s nice," Gu Ye explained, carrying three water guns.
"Good. Those crazy rapids online look terrifying," Jiang Mo said, climbing into the boat first.
Gu Ye seized the opportunity and plopped down right beside her, completely oblivious to Li Zheng’s resentful stare from behind. He even had the nerve to say, "You’ve got the whole back to yourself—plenty of space."
Li Zheng rubbed the back of his head and grinned. "Sure, thanks for the VIP seating, Xiao Ye."
The rafting started smoothly, the water clear and the breeze cool—much more pleasant than the city.
Taking advantage of the calm, Li Zheng spoke up. "Jie, can you take some photos of me?"
"Sure. Strike a pose," Jiang Mo said, pulling out her phone and snapping away.
When she finished, Li Zheng took the phone to review the shots. "Not bad. Want me to take some of you?"
At home, he was her go-to photographer.
Jiang Mo lifted her water gun. "Go for it. Make me look good."
"Jie, you’ve trained me well—have some faith," Li Zheng said, expertly angling the camera.
Gu Ye watched their sibling dynamic with amusement. When Jiang Mo checked the photos, he peeked over her shoulder.
Every shot was of her alone—not a single glimpse of him in the frame. The kid had some serious skills.
"These are great. You’ve got a real talent," Gu Ye praised.
"Damn right," Li Zheng boasted. "I studied up online. I’ve got the receipts."
If he hadn’t, his sister would’ve roasted him for his mediocre shots ages ago.
Gu Ye cleared his throat. "How about taking a few of me and your sister together?"
He handed over his phone.
"No problem. Guaranteed top-tier content," Li Zheng said, fully absorbed in his role as photographer.
He even started directing them. "Jie, pose a little. Xiao Ye, scoot closer to her."
Jiang Mo belatedly realized that she had somehow ended up taking photos with Gu Ye—this seemed to be the first time the two of them had posed together.
But given the situation, it wasn’t the right moment to say anything.
As he leaned closer, even the slightest tilt of her head made it seem like she was resting against his shoulder.
It felt a little awkward.
Meanwhile, Gu Ye, though wearing sunglasses, had already struck a pose, grinning so wide his teeth were on full display.
"Looking good! Wow, what a gorgeous pair! You two should try some more poses," Li Zheng chimed in.
Jiang Mo teased, "Little bro, you sound exactly like those photographers at tourist spots who hustle people for pictures."
Li Zheng retorted, "They might exaggerate, but I’m just stating facts."
After the photos were taken, Li Zheng handed the phone back to Gu Ye in the wobbling rubber raft. Just then, the current grew stronger, rocking the raft even more violently.
Jiang Mo quickly warned, "Put your phone away before it falls in the water! Hold onto the handrails!"
Gu Ye didn’t have time to check the photos and hastily stuffed the phone into his pocket.
As they reached a wider stretch of the river, more rafts appeared. Some people started spraying water at the trio, and Li Zheng was the first to retaliate with his water gun, plunging them all into a chaotic water fight.
Noticing someone aiming at Jiang Mo, Gu Ye shifted positions, playing the hero shielding the damsel.
"Get behind me," he said, blocking her and firing his water gun.
The icy water splashed against them, but there was also a warmth between them.
Jiang Mo wasn’t entirely comfortable with his protective move—she’d been having fun. "It’s fine, not much water got through. Watch me fight back!"
Gu Ye obediently stepped aside, stealing a few cautious glances. Thankfully, Jiang Mo’s clothes weren’t see-through, and only a small part was damp. At least they had spare outfits in the waterproof bag.
"Let me help you," he offered.
Li Zheng, meanwhile, was thoroughly enjoying himself, though he bore the brunt of the attacks and ended up drenched. But getting soaked was all part of the rafting experience.
The hour-and-a-half-long drifting journey grew slightly more thrilling toward the end, with the sounds of the jungle echoing around them. While it was undeniably fun, it also drained most of their energy.
When they finally reached the endpoint, Li Zheng and Gu Ye climbed out first. As Jiang Mo prepared to step onto the shore, two hands reached out simultaneously to help her up.
